SSS invites Senator over suspected Boko Haram commander

The State Security Service (SSS) has invited Senator, Alhaji Ahmed Khalifa Zanna, in connection with the arrest of a suspected Boko Haram Commander, Shuaib Mohammed Bama.

But the Senator said although the suspect is his nephew, he has no link with the sect in any way.

He said the house where the suspect was arrested belongs to a former Governor of Borno State, Senator Modu Ali Sheriff, whom he defeated to win Borno Central Senatorial seat in the Senate.

He accused the JTF of burning 300 houses in the last one and a half months and killing 500 people.

Zanna, who spoke on his experience in Abuja, said he suspected an attempt to frame him up by the JTF.

He said: “Since my house was searched and the JTF made the announcement, I have not been contacted by security agencies. But it was only this morning (Sunday), I saw a text that the SSS DG will want to see me on Monday. I will honour the invitation .What I am suspecting is that they want to frame me up.”

On his relationship with the Boko Haram suspect, Zanna said: “Yes, he is my sister’s son.

“As for his behaviour, he is a … He beats up my children; he abuses my friends. He came to my house, so I sent him away. That was about a year ago. And for whatever reason I don’t know, he came to my house last week and I said he should leave the house.

“Sometime ago, he even threatened to kill his mother. So, the mother was not even feeling comfortable living with him. And he narrated that to me. That is why I also do not want him to be near me.

“I don’t know him to be a Boko Haram member. Never, never, I do not know him to be a member of Boko Haram.”

The Senator gave an insight into how the JTF raided his house last Thursday.

He said: “On Thursday, they went to my house. I was in Warri at that time; I went for an oversight function. My wife called me; she said the army people were at our gate. Actually, they went with four armoured vehicles and about 40 of them came to my house.

“They searched all the rooms and when they went to the children’s room, they broke all their cabinets and searched everywhere. When they could not found anything, then they assembled all the boys in my building, took them out and put them under the scorching sun. Actually, before doing that, they beat them up. We had to take them to hospital later.

“Under this traumatized condition, they asked them whether they know one Shuaib Bama. They said, of course, they know when they see him.

“One of them was asked to go and show them where he is living. As they were going, when they were about to reach the house, they stopped. In fact, they blindfolded the boy. And one of the officers asked one of the personnel to come down so that they should follow him to the house without the boy telling them where the house is.

“So, as they started going, the other officer sitting down asked him: ‘If you know the house, then why should we pick this boy?’ And after some arguments, they went to the house and arrested the boy.”

He added: “Contrary to the claim of the JTF, the boy was arrested in Rabi Street, off Damboa Road. And the, the house belongs to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. Before, the house belonged to one Abba Mala, a Cameroonian. And later, he sold it to late Tijjani Banki and Sheriff bought from Tijjani Banki.

“I reacted because they said they arrested the boy in the house of a serving Senator along Damboa Road and I am the one living along Damboa Road.

“I really do not understand why they did all these. I am confused. If they want to frame me up, they have failed in that one because they did not get that boy in my house. I have nothing to do with it. Let them go and ask the person where the boy was staying. So, they should not have mentioned my house.”

Zanna explained that the JTF went after him because he demanded withdrawal of soldiers from Maiduguri during an interview with BBC.

He said: “This story emanating from the JTF is actually as a result of an interview which I carried out(granted) in BBC last week – asking for their withdrawal from the state because they are not working according to the rules of engagement.

“I noticed that they are just killing innocent people, killing them unnecessarily, harassing their families, extorting money. All these have been going on and I became so concerned.

Particularly, the killing and burning of houses became the order of the day.

“At least, 300 houses were burnt within the last one and a half months. And it will not be an exaggeration for me to say that up to 500 people have been killed by the bullets of the JTF.

“I called for their withdrawal because even Boko Haram cannot do more than that. If they have come to protect us, they are not supposed to eliminate our young ones. Most of the people affected are young ones.

“According to the information I got yesterday, they have started even killing old men. Somebody who was about 70 years old was killed. He was sitting down, listening to a radio and a JTF man came and he said: ‘Baba come’. They just took him to a certain distance and shot him. This is the type of things happening. So, my people are helpless. This warranted me to react.”

This man have not for once conderm the boko haram killings but he is asking for JTF be withdrawn from his town,is this not a clear sign that this man is a boko member?The JTF should also go after Ali mudu sherif he is all so a co spornsor of boko,

Ggh

Don’t say what you don’t know. Book haram issue is deeper than wat on papers.

justiche

Ggh. tell what we do not know. Tell us why you are bombing churches, killing Igbos, and requesting that Jonathan should convert to Islam?

Aik

Get this terrorist arrested! Why’s he building alibi upon alibi for himself if he is not an accomplice/sponsor? I could imagine the security agency coming down like a wrecking ball on small fry! More is required here!

DAPO OGUN

Its funny that the top 2 boko haram guys caught have been found in residences of northern nigeria Senators!

kunle Akala

There is no smoke without fire. This Senator is yet to tell us the whole truth about this useless boko haram people. He should be well drilled along with Sherif.

Okoh

No place to hide, their sins will find them out

areaboy

It beats my imagination that Modu Sherrif is living freely in the society. I s he not the same guy that has been linked to the formation of Boko haram through his political thugs. It is too much of a conicidence that “boys” who I am sure do not have any source of livelihood will be living in his house. It is also too much of a coincidence that a memeber of Boko haram who is a nephew to senator Zanna who has been calling for the withdrawal of JTF from Bornu lives in the house of senator Sherrif who is the founder of Boko haram. Go figure. Fact remains that the Northernars are not yet serious about stopping Boko haram.

areaboy

It beats my imagination that no body has deemed it neccessary to effectively interrogate Modu Sherriff. It is well known that boko haram is an offshoot of his political thugs. It is too much of a coincidence that Zanna who has been calling for the withdrawal of JTF from bornu, has a nephew who is a commander of boko haram and lives in the house of Modu sherriff whose political thugs were the offshoot of boko haram.

Toye Adeyemi

Senátor Zanna should, first of first, call for disbarnment or wihdrawal of Boko sect, whose activity caused deployment of jtf and call for further intersection of Bunu Sherif. I do not believed, he actually defeated Bunu Sherif, but rather, the ex-governor handed him the batton of progressive decimation of people’s live in their state.

CHRIS SEGUN

Nemesis will catch you up,so it seems to be true that Boko Haram is at all levels of government in Nigeria. I can’t immagine a Senator and ex-governor for that matter.

zanna is Boko Haram Member, no doubt about that, and one of the co financial sponsor , he should stop pretending and deceiving Nigerians, SSS should do their job, unless they are also romancing the Bokos and their sponsore.

Ggh

Oga, put yourself in his shoes you hw will you feel? You need to be in borno to knw the state of these people. It just more than what all of you are thinking. You think it just muslim Christian issue? IT ALL ABOUT 2015 ELECTION

Sharp Abuja

Ggh… how much were you paid to speak or or or hold brief for evil doers? How many times has Senator Zana did condemn the activities of Boko Haram nor mobilize the Northern leader to condemn BH? He is crying Wolf cry and mopping up sentiment because time is up. He should go and answer the SSS and clear his records.

amasi

No not 2015 But 2011 when u and the Stupid Zanna try to protect the North by making Nigeria un governable to GEJ by sponsoring Boko haram . He cry fault and accuse JTF who are Innocent. He provided money and admonition to Boko haram. God has finally expose him

omo naija

you are an idiot, is Zanna not pdp a member. pdp is the cause of all evils Nigerians are facing today. they are so power-hungry and greedy that they go to any length just to retain power. may God show them the right path amen.

Easy E

In my opinion, you are the one who fails to understand the dynamics of the situation. There are many affiliation and organisations meant for the promotion and protection of northern interests; by this we mean the interest of their elite. These organisations transcend party political association. Have you not heard them discussing the joint selection of a candidate for Presidency and if necessary, they creation of another party? No my friend, it runs deeper than you think.

GREAAT THINKER

I don’t think that majority of Northerners support Boko Haram. This is what happens when an evil sect or group take over a place. I sincerely pity our innocent Northern brothers who are caught in the middle of this. Boko Haram threaten and kill them, JTF threaten and kill them.
I agree with Ggh, this is merely a political matter. We Nigerians are always so foolish to allow the wrong people rule us. Boko Haram has existed even before Jonathan came to power. Some northern elements have just decided to empower them to frustrate this government.
The Senator in question should be properly interrogated but not wrongfully accused if innocent.
Boko Haram is a very complicated puzzle and should not be approached and handled childishly through bigotry, tribalism, religious sentiment or any other social vice.
In the past some northerners that worked as informants against Boko Haram in Kano were beheaded in their homes. It is not easy to fight such an enemy when he is deeply embedded within your society and your people.

omo naija

GOD BLESS YOU. you are indeed a great thinker.

Dan Kujika

Bravo JTF and SSS , you’ve got the father, an uncle and sponsor of Boko Haram in the name of Senator Alhaji A. K . Zanna. Prop him further , he will sing more and reveal other devilish collaborators .Nemesis is now catching up with them.

Now we know Zana is a sponsor of Boko haram.He can condemn the activity of JTF but refused to condemn Boko haram.Is it possible for him to be in Warri and take the boys beaten up by JTF to the hospital?tThe SSS should go after Tim and expose him to Nigerians.

Gowon

Let us see the outcome of sss invitation and reaction from national assembly members. All those representing boko haram group should be recalled from national assembly.

fad

i wonder you talk more of your innocent been killed but without the innocent xtians,other tribes and the visitors been killed by this boko haram.are you sure you are not one ? all i know the blood of the innocent will rest at nothing untill all who have hand in it are all brought to book..

benard

I have some question to the senator.
(1) Did you know that your nephew was a wanted man by the state?
(2) Have you ever condem the activities of the terrorist group boko haram?
(3) Are you happy the way your state is now?
It amaze that those old fools can not give information to JTF but their young once are ready to do so that shows that we are coming to the end of boko haram. those idoits are somebody”s brother they are not ghost they are human. Truth must come out one day.
THE LORD IS OUR STRENGHT.

Lawrence

I think this senetor is already cooperating very well with the sss whom he has helped in naming an alleged co-sponsor of the sect ‘Modu Sherrif’. I think he has also stated that they are all related family members. the sss should throughly look into the other senior politicans of these two families ‘senetor and Modu Sherrif’ for further help. This is a major breakthrough for the sss. Good job. For my dear senetor of the FRN ‘All the days are for the theif and one day is for the owner’. This is the day for the peace loving people of Borno state. We were confused before and our dear senetor was not. Our dear senetor is confused now and we are full of understanding of the sitution.

It is very evident that the senator and former governor have a hand in this.Truly,if they don t have a hand in it,they would have exposed the BOKO HARAM commander that the senator said is his nephew when the boy was declared wanted by JTF.Also,the senator has been criticizing JTF because they were after his nephew and BOKO HARAM boys which if they eventually catch with,will expose the senator.JTF on the other hand has been working with intelligent report to track at the senator but not to set the senator up as claimed by the idiot senator.where was the senator when other christians and even muslims opposed to BOKO HARAM were killed unjustly?This is the time for mr president to act.There are no untouchables in this country.all citizens are equal before the law,as such any idiot found wanting must face the wrath of the law.Mr president has displayed some level of cowardice since the likes of former governor of Yobe state will open his useless mouth and threaten the government for issue of allocation or have worst killings and destruction that will be more than BOKO HARAM.The idiot is still walking free round the streets as if what he has said was a sermon!

donik

The statement is inciting and inflammatory.. The man should be arrested and tried. Let the heavens fall or let the arrest lead to break-up of this contraption called Nigeria.

Godwin

The so called senator is a member of BH and should be arrested.As far as i know he is talking rubbish.I can’t imagine!this BH guys was declared wanted once,and i believe the senator had it.Then why did the senator record the BH guy to police.
He is just deceiving himself.Mad cow.

Bash

Juzt imagine wht a Nigerian Senator requested …………..”JTF should be witdrawn”
definitely, he muzt be a mad man!! when there were bomb blast everywhere from ………..UN building-force headquarters-Madalla church-kano metro-Potizkim Massacre…..etc where waz mr Senator, now payback time he’z shouting!!
plz SSS drills him very well ?……………he’ll confezz……he’z their sponsor, if not y din’t he report the activities of hiz Nephew(the suspect) to security agencies?
Kudoz to JTF and SSS!!
good job!!

umunna

its unfortunate that all these old men who are at their departure lounge to the world beyond are desperate in destroying the loves of average Nigerians. How come that all these while that the Boko Haran men are busy killing and destroying lives in the North, none of them have been bold enough to condemn their actions, and now that the JTF is having an upper hand, they are crying foul. what do these people really want? is it to allow Boko Haram to kill all Christians and non Muslims in the state ? i want to believe that all these Boko Haram issue is a calculated attempt to frustrate the leadership of Pres. Jonathan who to my mind has given these people more room to operate, otherwise no where on earth will these people operate with much powers as they do here

abbas

The truth is that the major casualities of this boko haram or whatever you want to call it is the innocent muslims of the northeast of nigeria. We pray that Allah will reveal those behind it.

AHMADU MUSA

The senator is not telling the truth. The president was right when he said some time ago that some prominent people in government, military, etc are sponsors of boko haram, The bottom line is that our people in the north are embarking on a jihad in this age. That is why all the northern elders cannot boldly come out in public and say ‘enough is enough to boko haram’. Who are the boko haram members? They are a bunch of criminals sponsored by the so called greedy short sighted northern elders to carry out jihad. They have failed already. The senator is just one the sponsors. By the grace of God, gradually, all of them will be exposed.

Asuquo Edem

SIN-ATOR Zanna is guilty until proven innocent.

samuelson

Every thing that has a beginning has an end.The senator confessed that the said Boko Haram commander is his nephew. I can now see that what Dr GEJ said sometimes that his government has been infiltrated by Bokon Haram loyalist is fast becoming true.This is the second senator indicted.It is one thing to Indict some one and another thing for the government to take drastic steps to bring them to book as Tafa Balogun was made to face the music in the days of Nuhu Ribadu.Senator, Alhaji Ahmed Khalifa Zanna is a disgrace to his generation and the nations as a whole.I feel bad and ashamed cos I know the story will die a sudden and unnatural death as usual.That is the Biblical saying that a mans enemies are members of his own house(Micah7 vs 6.That is what we are seeing.

donik

A senator whose sister’s son is a top commander of boko haram asked for withdrawal of JTF from his state, yet he claims that he does not sponsor or support bokos.. There is more to these than meet the eyes. Our up-north political leaders and elites are yet to convince us that they are not part and parcel of security problems facing the nation.. The other day, one of them threatened violence if Jonathan does not increase monthly allocation for north eastern states of Nigeria. The southern and core middle belt states should close ranks and be watchful of the activities of some of our northern brothers, otherwise they will be taken unawares. No one should forget so soon the experiences of Rwanda .
..

Moses Jone

Where is Senator Ali Ndume? What of those indicted?The truth of the matter is Sen. Ahmed Zanna has links with Taliban since the 80s. Wallahi I know that. Almost all PDP members are Boko Haram, including our so called elders who ha our these criminals and call for JTF withdrawal. Iam frm Borno State. We ha our them, support them and give them food, shelter and clothing. If JTF is cooperative, we will provide valuable information because we are fed up and don’t want our Christains brothers and sisters being killed daily and be destroying the image of Islam and Nigeria.

Muhammadu Danborno

Yesterday It was Senaror Ali Ndume, indicted, arrested and being prosecuted. But SSS is yet to probe its case against him. Remember Ndume has always been against the SSS/JTF style of operation in Borno. Then today, another senator who of recent expresses displeasure over the way things are going in Borno. He is linked to a so called BH commander, invited by SSS and only God knows what next. Can we trust them on their and BH operations again.

evwodere

Why is the senator started singing when is yet to meet with the sss? . It is really sad that our so called leaders are behind all evils in our nation. Surely senator zana has alot to explain. Our God will fish him and others like him out and bring them to judgement.

Blacklord

Boko Haram Commander, Shuaib Mohammed Bama. was a wanted man names some month back and a serving senator and ex-gov is solely behind boko boys……….. what a shame………. and it is true that what ever they said in the assembly they always lick out to them……….. and proofer away to them in escaping ………………..

20………… Nigeria in split be prepare and stop panicking……………..

fin

SSS and JTF, the destiny of this nation Nigeria is now in your hands. You fail Nigeria will crumble like pack of cards, you succeed Nigeria will become more united than before. The lead way is on your palms now to make a break through.

dee

From his looks alone it is obvious that this man is a BH sponsor, he need to be drilled for him to own up.

kenny

Mr senator, you have a case to answer! No escape route for you. Your days are up!!! Good luck!!

Zana has dishonored himself by the fluid explanation he has offered claiming innocence of his involvement in boko haram.This is total display of cawordice.Zana and ofcourse all those so called honorables from the boko haram infested areas in the North East political zone are all suspects and let me suggest that the SSS subjects all those honorables to thorough investigation immediately.

James

Boko Haram senator, you suppose to be talking from Nigeria maximum prison as we are speaking. You are waging war against Nigerian state. May all the blood of the lovely people of Borno be on your head. You will not live long because, God, Halla, Jesus, Ogun, Sango will end your life. You will not die peacefully. Your excuse is a clear confirmation that you are the people that are making life uncomfortable for the rest of us in Borno state and give Nigeria a bad name. Halla will expose the rest of you, May you be a victim of BH

nkem

senator, even if you die, you will never rest in your grave. is this the one Nigeria
the North is calling for?

Anthony Iloegbunam

He was arrested in the fmr Gov house, its true, but u know his mother and he was in the habit of beating ur own children too. That means he is a member of ur house. This Bokoharam senator has a big case to answer as I can never vouch for anybody from that state over bokoharam issue. They are all unofficial and official members of the sect. Its high time they all be aliminated because of the volume of blood already spilled.

Uyome

Senator, Alhaji Ahmed Khalifa Zanna,
Are you telling Nigerians that you did not know that your nephew was a BOKO HARAMIST? Or are you telling Nigerians that the confirmed BOKO HARAMIST leader is not your nephew.
I have apologize to you Mr. Khalifa Zanna that matters of securities is not disclosed to the general public.
How are we sure that you don’t keep guns and bombs for them in your palace? Because as it stands, you actually have something to do with nephew and if not, what is he doing in your house?
To be honest Mr. Senator, you will be accountable to the thousands of lives that has being by aiding and abetting of criminals in your safe haven!
Useless BIG COW!

nsikak

When Jonathan emerged the prresident in 2011, prominent northern politicians promised to make Nigeria ungovernable. That was the origin of Boko Haram and the those politicians, with their excessive salaries and allowances, are the sponsors of Boko Haram. All the blood shed in the North does not mean anything to them. Let us see how those jihadists will rule Nigeria again.

Akin

Pleas, pass your comment with caution, not with emotion; may God safe Nigeria. While I’m not making my comment to protect or indict anybody, I wish also to say that it is possible for an uncle not to know whether or not his nephew belongs to a secrete society

TOBBY777

This senator is not telling the truth. He could not tell his nephew to stop blowing up people and places but he was calling for the withdrawal of military men from his state. Is it true that the jtf have killed more than 500 persons? If yes, why was it not reported by the press? If no, what political point a senator of the fraud republic of nigeria is trying to score? In as much as i will give my support to anything to uproot boko haram from the surface of the earth, i am totally against the killing of innocent nigerians in the name of chasing boko haram. I WEEP FOR MY COUNTRY .

Isreal,

Dialogue may be better option so as to avoid escalation, I pray to GOD to intervene and bring peace to our beloved country Nigeria